Octave valve control mechanism for saxophones and the like



1947- E. J. GILLESPIE 2,425,796

OCTAVE VALVE CONTROL MECHANISM FOR-SAXOPHONES AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 23, 1945 v i: INVENTOR.

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July-1 W, [may fallacy Patented Aug. 19, 1947 OCTAVE VALVE CONTROL BIECHANISRI FOR SAXOPHONES AND THE LIKE.

Earl J. Gillespie, Elkhart, Ind., assignor to The Martin Band Instrument Company, Elkhart, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Application February 23, 1945, Serial No. 579,324

8 Claims. 1 This invention relates, in general, to musical instruments, and has particular relation to an octave valve control mechanism for saXophones and the like.

The theory underlying the use of octave holes 5 or other attachments to the tubular body of the in instruments of the class described is well instrument are reduced to a minimum. understood by those skilled in the art. Their use Another object of the invention is to eliminate is analogous to the principle of playing the harthe necessity for a separate ring, stirrup, or the monic octave on a stringed instrument by touchlike for reaching to the inner side of the tubular ing the string, for example, at mid length. They body for actuation by the adjacent end of an form a node between the vibrating fractional actuating element operated by the key mechaparts of the air column similar, in general, to nism. forming a node between the vibrating fractional Further objects and advantages of the invenparts of the string of a stringed instrument by tion will pp fmm the following d d d touching the string. scription, taken in connection with the accom- In the conventional octave valve control Danying drawing which illustrates the manner of mechanism the octave hole is usually controlled constructing, assembling and operating one form; by a valve or load mounted on a relatively long of octave valve control mechanism embodying the: lever pivoted on the neck of the instrument and present invention. provided with a spring for closing the valve or In the drawing: pad. Heretofore the spring action has not been Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevational viewas effective as possible, and the lever has either of a portion of a saxophone having an octave: been subject to being bent or misaligned in the valve control mechanism embodying the present. use and handling of the instrument, or guide ve t posts or the like requiring attachment to the Figure 2 is a fragmentary front elevational. body of the instrument in addition to the attachview of the portion of the saxophone and octave! ment of the pivot posts fo the lever have been valve control mechanism shown in Figure 1; and. required. Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 with the Moreover, in the octave valve control mecha- Octave valve control mechanism and adjacent nisms prior to the present invention the octave portion of the tubular neck of the instrument in lever has usually been positioned on the outer section. side of the neck of the instrument and has re- Referring now to the drawing, the invention is. quired a ring, stirrup or the like reaching to the shown for purposes of illustration embodied in a, inner side of the tubula body for actuation from saxophone which comprises a tubular body comsuitable key mechanism, for example, through posed of the longitudinal tubular portion l which the adjacent end of an actuating element. is preferably tapered, the tubula neck 2 which is;

One of the main objects of the present invenusually detachably fastened at 3 to the tubular tion is to provide an improved form of octave portion l, and a bell or flare (not shown) at the valve control mechanism which will not have the opposite end of the tubular portion I. The outer disadvantages encountered with prior mechaend of the neck 2 has a mouthpiece 4. nisms of this sort. The tubular neck 2 has an octave hole or port Another object of the invention is to provide an 5 which opens through an annular outwardly improved mounting for the octave lever which projecting lip 6, on the outer end of which the will effectively prevent this lever from being bent octave valve or pad 7 is adapted to seat to close o misaligned in the use and handling of the the hole 5. instrument; also in combination with this im- The octave valve lever 8, which may be in the proved mounting an improved spring arrangeform of a casting or of other construction, is ment which will act more effectively and, more pivoted at 9 on a spar ID having at one end an particularly, right up adjacent the valve or pad integral flange or plate ll soldered or otherwise to close the same. fixed to the outer side of the tubular neck 2. The

Another object of the invention is to provide an extending arm of the spar I0 follows, in general, improved octave valve control mechanism which the curvature of the adjacent portion of the neck Will p e With c ty d Wi l b r t y 2, and its outer end terminates in relatively close quick and certain in action. proximity to the position of the octave hole 5.

Anothe object of the invention is to provide 2 an improved octave control mechanism composed of few parts adapted for convenient assembly and of pleasing appearance, and mechanism of the class described in which the number of soldered The lever 8 is of curved form and bifurcated or;

3 looped inwardly of its outer end, with the sides or branches of the loop or bifurcated portion straddling the outwardly extending arm of the spar it! and thereby effectively prevented from being bent or misaligned in the use and handling of the instrument. The octave valve or pad 'I is fixedly secured to the inner side of the outer end or" the lever B. lhe opposite looped or bi furcated end ll of the lever B is curved across the adjacent portion of the tubular body of the instrument, and by reason of its looped form, which surrounds or straddles the adjacent part of the tubular body, presents at the inner side of the tubular body an abutment at I2 for en gagement, for example, with an offset IS on the adjacent end of an actuating rod or element Hi.

The actuating rod or element I4 is operated by an octave key i5, and when thus operated swings the lever 8 counterclockwise (Figures 1 and 3) about its pivot ii to open the octave valve or pad 1'. The looped or bifurcated form of the lever B, in addition to being prevented from bending or misalignment by toe spar l provides a better balanced control for the octave valve. A thumb rest It is preferably soldered or otherwise attached to the tubular portion or" the instrument adjacent the octave key it, and the thumb rest it and key iii together are shown of generally teardrop form to present a pleasing appearance.

The leaf spring ll underlies the extending arm of the spar id and has one end abutting or secured at E8 to the inner side of the spar H), The opposite end of the spring I! abuts or is secured at I!) to the inner side of the outer end of the lever and the spring I! operates to hold the valve or pad l in closed position against the outer end of the rim of the octave hole and to return the valve l to closed position. With the spring arrangement described, the spring pressure or force is applied right up adjacent the valve or pad 7.

It will be from the foregoing description that with the present invention the attachment of the spar it] to the neck 2 constitutes the only attachment of the octave valve control mechanism to the tubular body of the instrument. The device is composed of few parts which are adapted for convenient assembl and are of pleasing appearance. The mechanism is adapted for operation expeditiously, and is relatively quicir and certain in action. Moreover the spring action is better, the octave lever is prevented from being bent or misaligned in use and handling of the instrument, and other advantageous results are provided.

The embodiment of the invention shown in the drawing for illustrative purposes only, and it is to be ex; ressly understood that said drawing and the accompanying specification are not to be construed as a definition of the limits or scope of the invention, reference being had to the appended claims for that purpose.

I claim:

1. In an instrument of the class described having a tubular body provided with an octave hole in the tubular neck portion thereof, the combination with said instrument of a spar attached to said heel; portion and having an arm extending outwardly along said neck portion in spaced relation thereto and into proximity to said octave hole, octave lever pivoted to said spar and of curved form and bifurcated and looped inwardly of its outer end with the sides thereof straddling the outwardly extending arm of the spar, whereby said spar by its engagement between the sides of said lever prevents bending and misalignment of said lever in use, and an octave valve attached to the outer end of said lever and adapted to close said octave hole. 5 2. In an instrument of the class described having a tubular body provided with an octave hole in the-tubular neck portion thereof, the combination with said instrument of a spar attached to said neck portion and having an arm extending outwardly along said neck portion in spaced relation thereto and into proximity to said octave hole, an octave lever pivoted to said spar and of curved form and bifurcated and looped inwardly of its outer end with the sides thereof straddling the outwardly extending arm of the spar, whereby said spar by its engagement between the sides of said lever prevents bending and misalignment of said lever in use, an octave valve attached to the outer end of said lever and adapted to close said octave hole, and a spring extending along the inner side of the extending arm of said spar and cooperating at its inner end with said spar and at its outer end with said lever adjacent said octave hole to hold said valve in closed position and to return same to said position.

3. In an instrument of the class described having a tubular body provided with an octave hole in the ubular necl: portion thereof, the combination with said instrument of a spar attached to said neck portion and having an arm extending outwardly along said neck portion in spaced relation thereto and into proximity to said octave hole, an octave lever pivoted to said spar and of curved form and bifurcated and looped inwardly of its outer end with the sides thereof straddling the outwardly extending arm of the spar, whereby said spar by its engagement between the sides of said lever prevents bending and misalignment of said lever in use, an octave valve attached to the outer end of said lever and adapted to close said octave hole, and a spring extending along the inner side of the extending arm of said spar cooperating at its inner end with said spar and at its outer end with said lever adjacent said octave hole to hold said valve in closed position and to return same to said position, the opposite looped or bifurcated end of said lever being curved across the adjacent portion of the tubular body of the instrument and by its looped form surrounding or straddling the adjacent part of the tubular body to present an integral abutment for engagement by a key operated actuating element.

t. In an instrument or the class described hava tube body provided with an octave hole the tu u on thereof, the combination with instrument of a spar attached to said neck poi ion having an arm extending out .dly neck portion in spaced relation thereto and into proximity to said-octave hole, an octave lever pivoted to said spar curved form and bifurcated and looped 0,] of its outer end with the sides thereof outwardly extending arm of the spar by its engagement belever prevents bending aid of lever in use, and, an to the outer end of said to close octave hole, the iiurcated end of .said lever tubular h r 7 of the instrument and by its looped form surrounding or straddling the, adjacent part of the tubular body to present an integral across he adjacent portion of .the-

abutment for engagement by a key operated ac tuating element.

5. In instrument of the class having a tubular body provided with an octave hole in the tubular neck portion there I, the combination with said instrumen of octave valve control mechanism comprising a spar attached to said neck portion and having an arm extending outwardly along said neck portion in relation thereto and into proximity to said octave hole, an octave lever pivoted to said par and of curved form and bifurcated and looped inwardly of its outer end with the sides thereof straddling the outwardly extending arm of the spar, whereby said spar by its engagement between the sides of said lever prevents bending and misalignment of said lever in use, octave valve attached to the outer end of said lever and adapted to close said octave hole, and a spring extending along the inner side of the extending arm of said spar and cooperating at its inner end with said spar and at its outer end with said lever adjacent said octave hole to hold said valve in closed position and to return same to said position, the opposite looped or bifurcated end of said lever being curved across the adjacent portion of the tubular body of the instrument and by its looped form surrounding or straddling the adjacent part of the tubular body to present an integral abutment for engagement by a key operated actuating element, the attachment of said spar to the tubular neck of the instrument constituting the only attachment between said octave valve control mechanism and the tubular body of the instrument.

6. In an instrument of the class described having a tubular body provided with an octave hole in the tubular neck portion thereof, the combination with said instrument of a spar attached to said neck portion and having anarm extending outwardly along said neck portion in spaced relation thereto and into proximity to said octave hole, an octave lever pivoted to said spar and of curved form and bifurcated and looped inwardly of its outer end with the sides thereof straddling the outwardly extending arm of the spar, whereby said spar by its engagement between the sides of said lever prevents bending and misalignment of said lever use, an octave valve attached to the outer end of said lever and adapted to close said octave hole, a spring extending along the inner side of the extending arm of said spar and cooperating at its inner end with said spar and at its outer end with said lever adjacent said octave hole to hold said valve in closed position and to return same to said position, the opposite looped or bifurcated end of said lever being curved across the adjacent portion of the tubular body of the instrument and by its looped form surrounding or stradding the adjacent part of the tubular body to present an integral abutment, and a key operated actuating element cooperating with said abutment for swinging said lever about its pivot to open said octave valve.

7. In an instrument of the class described wherein a curved tubular neck having an octave hole in the outer side thereof is joined to a longitudinal tubular portion and a key actuated rod has an end terminating adjacent the joint between said neck and said tubular portion and at the inner side thereof, the combination with said instrument of a spar having an inturned mounting end attached to the outer surface of said neck adjacent the curved part thereof and having an elongated extending outwardly along said neck into proximity to said octave hole in spaced relation to neck, an octave lever of bifurcated and looped and our ed with the loop extending from the inner end of the lever to position in close proximity to the outer end oi lever, the curved inner end of said lever surroun 1g the instrument adjaoent joint; also the adjacent end of said rod for abutment therewith, the curved looped portion of said lever extending across the instrumen-t adjacent said joint with the looped part intermediate the end of said lever straddling said spar adjacent its attachment to said neck and outwardly of said neck, the outer end of said lever extending along the outer side of said neck in spaced relation thereto, and an octave valve member on the outer of said lever adapted to close said octave hole, the outwardly extending arm of said. spar being disposed between the sides of the outer looped or" the lever and operable to prevent bending and misalignment of the lever in use.

8. In an instrument of the class described wherein a curved tubular neck having an octave hole in the outer side thereof is joined to a longitudinal tubular portion and a key actuated rod has an end terminating adjacent the joint between said neck and said tubular portion and at the inner side thereof, the combination with said instrument or" a spar having an inturned mounting end attached to the outer surface of said neck adjacent the curved part thereof and having an elongated arm extending outwardly along said neck into proximity to said octave hole and in spaced relation to said neck, an octave lever or bifurcated and looped form and curved with the loop extending from the inner end of the lever to position in close proximity to the outer end of said lever, the curved inner end of said lever surrounding the instrument adjacent said joint; also the adjacent end of said rod for abutment therewith, the curved looped portion of said lever extending across the instrument adjacent said joint with the looped part intermediate the end of said lever straddling said spar adjacent its attachment to said neck and outwardly of said neck, the outer end of said lever extending along the outer side of said neck in spaced relation thereto, an octave valve member on the outer end of said lever adapted to close said octave hole, the outwardly extending arm of said spar being disposed between the sides of the outer looped part of the lever and operable to prevent bending and misalignment of the lever in use, and a spring extending along the inner side of the extending arm of said spar and cooperating at its inner end with said spar and at its outer end with said lever adjacent said octave hole to hold said valve in closed position and to return same to said position.

EARL J. GILLESPIE.

CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,227,230 Sander Dec. 31, 1940 1,718,930 Chiron June 25, 1929 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 671,054 France Aug. 26, 1929 

